Notice2026-06748
Agency Information Collection Activities: Federal Claims Collection Methods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipient Claims
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 8, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a reinstatement with revision of a currently expired information collection. This information collection announces the intent of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to revise the burden hours and continue the requirements associated with initiating and conducting federal collection actions against debtors with delinquent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient debts.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17784-17787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06748]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Federal Claims
Collection Methods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Recipient Claims
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a
reinstatement with revision of a currently expired information
collection. This information collection announces the intent of the
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to revise the burden hours and
continue the requirements associated with initiating and conducting
federal collection actions against debtors with delinquent Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient debts.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 8, 2026 to
be considered.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Maribelle Balbes, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th
Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314 or (703) 605-4272. Comments may also be
submitted via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9deef3fcedeefcffdde8eef9fcb3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="31425f504142505371444255501f565e47">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments will also be accepted
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All
comments will become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Dr. Casey
Lowe at (703) 659-7361 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#15667b746566747755606671743b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0d7e636c7d7e6c6f4d787e696c236a627b">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate, automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: Federal Claims Collection Methods for Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program Recipient Claims.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: 0584-0446.
Expiration Date: 09/30/2025.
Type of Request: Reinstatement of an expired information
collection.
Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the
Act).\1\ as amended (7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and SNAP regulations at 7 CFR
273.18 \2\ require State agencies to refer delinquent SNAP debts to the
U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) for collection and notify
debtors. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 \3\ (Pub. L. 104-
134) (DCIA), as amended by the Digital Accountability and Transparency
Act of 2014 \4\ (Pub. L. 113-101), requires these debts be referred to
Treasury for collection when they are 120 days or more delinquent.
While SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(n) still reflect the older
standard of 180 days, States must follow the 120-day timeframe required
by DCIA as amended by Public Law 113-101. The Treasury Offset Program
(TOP), 31 CFR part 285,\5\ intercepts and offsets eligible federal
payments, such as federal income tax refunds and federal salaries, to
pay these delinquent SNAP debts. The requirement to use TOP to collect
delinquent debts places a reporting, recordkeeping, and public
disclosure burden on State agencies, debtors, or third-party support
solutions. The State agency notifies debtors of their impending
referral to TOP, submits the debts into TOP to initiate interception of
federal payments, and conducts Automated Data Processing (ADP) or
third-party support solutions. The debtor reads the notice, makes
formal, informal, and phone inquiries to the State agency, and in some
cases, submits an appeal.
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\1\ <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-10331/pdf/COMPS-10331.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-10331/pdf/COMPS-10331.pdf</a>.
\2\ <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-C/part-273/subpart-F/section-273.18">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-C/part-273/subpart-F/section-273.18</a>.
\3\ <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-10-21/pdf/96-26495.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-10-21/pdf/96-26495.pdf</a>.
\4\ <a href="https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ101/PLAW-113publ101.pdf">https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ101/PLAW-113publ101.pdf</a>.
\5\ <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-285">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-285</a>.
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For the burden estimates included in this information collection,
FNS is using the TOP referral data from calendar years 2018-2020, which
was also used in the previous ICR for this form. The 2018-2020 data
were prior to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and were not
impacted by the flexibilities offered to States to suspend claims and
TOP collections during the PHE. Specifically, during the PHE, State
agencies were provided the flexibility to suspend collection of active
recoupments of SNAP overpayments, delay collection on newly established
overpayments, not consider any payments delayed due to this suspension
to be delinquent and suspend TOP collections.
While FNS used the TOP referral data from the prior submission, the
updated time estimates for individual activities are based on
consultations with State
[[Page 17785]]
agencies. The burden associated with the information collection
involves both debtors and State agencies. The total inquiry and
response burden for the TOP notices between State agencies and debtors
is 547,650 responses (272,161 debtor responses + 275,489 State agency
responses) per year resulting in an annual reporting burden of 46,490
hours. Since the data from the last submission is being used, there is
no change in the number of responses for this ICR. The burden hours
stayed the same, with the exception of the ADP reporting burden hours,
which decreased based on updated estimates received from stakeholder
consultations. Please see the section titled Automated Data Processing
(ADP) or Third-Party Support Solutions for more information.
Individual/Household Reporting
The TOP notice notifies the debtors of the proposed referral to TOP
and provides the right for review and appeal. The debtors receive and
read the TOP notice and may make a phone inquiry or informally appeal
the impending action. Based on an average of the number of records for
claims for calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020, FNS estimates that
debtors will read 249,953 TOP notices. FNS estimates that the debtors
will submit about 17,497 informal inquiries. Debtors will file an
estimated 1,499 formal appeals.
An additional 2,458 TOP notices will be sent directly from FNS to
federal employees concerning the potential offset of their federal
salary. These debtors will make about 738 phone inquiries and informal
appeals, as well as 16 formal appeals in response to the FNS letter.
The total number of household responses for the TOP notices,
including all inquiries and appeals, is an estimated 272,161 responses
per year, resulting in an estimated total annual burden of 26,392
hours. Since previous years' data is being used, there is no change in
the number of records or burden hours for the individual/household
reporting portion of this ICR.
Individual/Household Reporting
Affected Public: Debtors (respondent type--Debtors).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 272,161.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 272,161.
Estimated Hours per Response: 0.097.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 26,392.
State Agency Reporting
The State agency prepares and mails the TOP notices to debtors and
responds to all inquiries and appeals. Based on an average number of
records for claims the States sent to TOP for calendar years 2018,
2019, and 2020, FNS estimates that State agencies will produce and send
249,953 TOP notices. FNS estimates that State agencies will respond to
about 17,497 informal inquiries. State agencies will respond to an
estimated 1,499 formal appeals. State agencies will receive an
estimated 738 phone inquiries and informal appeals, as well as 16
formal appeals in response to the FNS notice to federal employees
concerning potential offset to their federal salaries. The total number
of responses for the TOP notice, including all inquiries and appeals,
is an estimated 275,489 State agency responses per year, resulting in
an estimated total annual burden of 20,097 hours. Previous years' data
is being used and stakeholder consultations did not result in any
changes to the estimated time per task; therefore, there is no change
in the number of records or burden hours for the State agency reporting
portion of this ICR.
State agencies must submit an annual certification letter to FNS
stating that all debts submitted in the past and all debts to be
submitted in the upcoming calendar year by the State agency to TOP are
valid and legally enforceable in the amount stated. FNS estimates that
it will take State agencies a total of 26.5 hours per year for these
State submissions. This burden has not changed with this revision. The
burden requirements associated with establishing claims (demand
letters) and for reporting activity with the FNS-209 (648 burden hours
and 212 total annual responses) are already approved under the
information collections for SNAP Repayment Demand and Program
Disqualification (OMB burden numbers 0584-0492, expiration date 08/31/
2027, and 0584-0594, expiration date 09/30/2026, respectively) and
therefore not duplicated in this request.
State Agency Reporting
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5,197.
Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 275,489.
Estimated Hours per Response: 0.073.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 20,097.
Automated Data Processing (ADP) or Third-Party Support Solutions
The burden for ADP or third-party support solutions includes weekly
file processing, monthly address requests and system maintenance.
Weekly and monthly file processing includes requesting debtor addresses
to mail TOP notices, adding and maintaining debts in TOP, correcting
errors on unprocessable records, and posting weekly collection files.
Much of this activity is completed using automation and involves an
estimated 1.4 million records annually. FNS estimates that the system
compatibility file will take 549.88 hours. The address file is
estimated to take 578.76 hours, and the collections file is estimated
to take a total of 2,239.23 hours. The State agency profile is
estimated at 13.25 hours, and State agencies are estimated to spend 35
hours per year testing new systems. Weekly files account for a total of
3,368.38 burden hours and weekly files, posting TOP data is a total of
3,980.77 hours per year. FNS estimates that the total annual reporting
burden for ADP or third-party support solution activities is 10,765.27
hours. Since previous years' data is being used, there is no change in
the number of records for this information collection, however, the
amount of time per task has decreased slightly based on feedback from
stakeholder consultations. The FY23 ADP total burden hours were
12,374.82 hours, which is a decrease of 1,609.56 hours (12,374.82
hours-10,765.26 hours = 1,609.56 hours).
ADP or Third-Party Support Solutions
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 122.
Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 6,471.
Estimated Hours per Response: 1.6636.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 10,765.26.
Recordkeeping
Per 7 CFR 272.1(f), State agencies are required to retain all
records associated with the administration of SNAP for no less than 3
years. The burden for the retention of weekly TOP files is estimated to
take each of the 53 State agencies approximately 0.25 hours per week,
or 689 recordkeeping burden hours. These burden estimates have not
changed with this revision.
[[Page 17786]]
Recordkeeping
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 52.
Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 2,756.
Estimated Hours per Response: 0.25.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 689.
The total annual burden for this information collection is 47,179
hours (46,490 total reporting hours + 689 total recordkeeping hours =
47,179 total burden hours).
Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden Estimates
The burden chart below depicts the burden estimates for this
information collection.
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Number of Total
Section of Reg Description Number of responses per annual Hours per Total annual
respondents respondent responses response burden hours
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Debtors
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A. Due-Process Notice Requirements
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273.18(n)(2)................................ Reading TOP Notice................ 249,953 1.00 249,953 0.0835 20,871.10
Informal inquiries to State Agency 17,497 1.00 17,497 0.2500 4,374.19
Formal appeals to State Agency.... 1,499 1.00 1,499 0.5000 749.29
Reading FNS issued letter to 2,458 1.00 2,458 0.0835 205.28
federal employees.
Phone inquiries and informal 738 1.00 738 0.2500 184.38
appeals in response to the FNS
issued letter.
Formal appeals to FNS in response 16 1.00 16 0.5000 8.19
to the FNS issued letter.
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Totals......................... 272,161 1.00 272,161 0.0970 26,392.43
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State Agencies
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A. Due-Process Notice Requirements
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273.18(n)(2)................................ TOP Notice production............. 53 4,716.10 249,953 0.0167 4,174.22
Responding to phone/informal 53 330.13 17,497 0.2500 4,374.19
inquiries.
Responding to formal appeals...... 53 28.28 1,499 0.5000 749.29
Providing formal appeal documents 53 0.31 16 0.5000 8.19
to FNS.
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B. State Agency Reporting
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273.18(n)(1)(ii)............................ Certification letter.............. 53 1.00 53 0.5000 26.50
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State Agency Total............. 53 5,075.81 269,018 0.03 9,332.39
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C. TOP Automated Data Processing
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273.18(n)(1), 273.18(n)(4).................. System compatibility file......... 53 1.00 53 10.3750 549.88
Address file...................... 53 8.00 424 1.3650 578.76
Collections file.................. 53 8.00 424 5.2812 2,239.23
State Agency profile.............. 53 1.00 53 0.2500 13.25
Testing new system................ 5 1.00 5 7.0000 35.00
Weekly files...................... 53 52.00 2,756 1.2222 3,368.38
Weekly files--post TOP data....... 53 52.00 2,756 1.4444 3,980.77
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Total Automated Data Processing 53 122 6,471 1.6636 10,765.26
Totals......................... 53 5,197.91 275,489 0.0730 20,097.66
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Overall Totals................. 272,214 2.01 547,650 0.0849 46,490.09
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Recordkeeping
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Number of records Total annualized
Number of record annually per record Total of all Hours per Total record Base hourly Fully loaded cost of respondent
keepers keeper records annually record keeping hours wage rate wage rate burden
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53 52 2,756 0.25 689.00 $12.98 $17.26 $11,894.48
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[[Page 17787]]
Patrick A. Penn,
Deputy Undersecretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2026-06748 Filed 4-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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